American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Introduction

Similar in size to a Blackbird, this red-breasted thrush normally migrates between North and South America. It is only very occasionally recorded in Britain & Ireland.

Most of the British and Irish records come from the winter months (October to February).

In summer, female American Robins roost on their nests while the males congregate in communal roosts.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

80g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

474 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-66.7% contraction

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Devon, 1952

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.03%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-66.7 %

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about American Robin movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for American Robin, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for American Robin

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Scientific name: Turdus migratorius
Authority: Linnaeus, 1766

BTO 2-letter code: AR
BTO 5-letter code: AMERO
Euring code number: 12030

Alternate species names

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Catalan: griva americana
Czech: drozd stehovavý
Danish: Vandredrossel
Dutch: Roodborstlijster
Estonian: punarind-rästas
Finnish: punarintarastas
French: Merle d’Amérique

German: Wanderdrossel
Hungarian: vándorrigó
Icelandic: Farþröstur
Irish: Smólach Imirce
Italian: Tordo migratore americano
Latvian: celotajstrazds
Lithuanian: strazdas klajoklis
Norwegian: Vandretrost

Polish: drozd wedrowny
Portuguese: tordo-americano
Slovak: drozd stahovavý
Slovenian: tašcicni drozg
Spanish: Zorzal robín
Swedish: vandringstrast
Welsh: Robin America

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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